Edgars Creek
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Description of Edgars Creek
Wurundjeri-willam - local aboriginal relevance
Community
Edwardes Lake Park
History
Geology
Northern Melbourne Waterways Study 1999
Important announcements!
Friends Of Edgars Creek
The Friends of Edgars Creek was recently formed in February 2007. Do you have a passion for the creek and would like to help improve it? Please come and join us on one of our monthly activities.
For more information contact:
Aliey Ball m: 0407 132 560 or email: edgarscreek@freshwater.net.au
Stephen Northey m: 041 050 4212 email: stephen@optimus-prime.com
Merri & Edgars Creek Parklands
The Merri and Edgars Creek Parklands Group (MECPG) are currently advocating to prevent the possible residential development of the parklands area near the confluence of the Merri and Edgars Creeks.
The parklands is owned by Vic Roads and under threat of being sold to developers. Moreland is already bereft of open space - this precious and highly valued parkland is home to 48 species of fauna. It also is of spiritual and cultural significance to the Wurundjeri People.
Click here to go to the MECPG website to find out how you can help prevent the loss of this treasured parklands.
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Description of Edgars Creek
Edgars Creek is 17km in length flowing from Wollert in Melbourne's north to Coburg North, journeying through Epping, Thomastown, Reservoir and Coburg to join the Merri Creek downstream from Lake Reserve Park, near Murray road.
It passes through the boundaries of the Cities of Whittlesea, Darebin and Moreland, through rural, industrial and residential areas. It is a seasonal creek, susceptible to drying out during the hot seasons, particularly in its northern most regions, and is likewise prone to flooding. The section of the Edgars Creek pictured in flood below (3/2/05) is usually only one or two meters across.
Though a considerable part of the creek is in an artificial state, through much of Epping to Reservoir, over half of the creek remains in a semi-natural state, particularly in its upper and lower sections.
Further downstream Edgars Creek feeds the picturesque Leamington St Wetlands Reserve and Edwardes Lake Park in Reservoir, which is home to many bird species. Click here to learn more about Edwardes Lake Park.
Edgars Creek departs the lake via a weir wall at the southwest end, continuing from Livingston St through to the City of Moreland, where there are lovely walking areas on both escarpments.
A considerable effort has been made to restore indigenous vegetation within both the Darebin and Moreland boundaries by both councils in conjunction with Merri Creek Management Committee.
Go to Friends Groups and NGO's to find out more about this & other community groups.
Wurundjeri-willam
On this website Wurundjeri Elder Ian Hunter talks Melbourne Aboriginal History & Culture on the following subjects:
The Kulin Nation & Wurundjeri People
William Barak the Wirrirrap
Woiwurrung Language & Traditions
Reconciliation
Lettsom Raid
Wurundjeri A Hunting & Gathering People
Batman Treaty
Lineage
Bunjil & Other Dreamtime Stories
Edgars Creek, along with many of the water bodies of Melbourne's north, is of spiritual and cultural significance to the Wurundjeri People, its Indigenous Aboriginal People.
Edgars Creek falls within the tribal boundaries of the Wurundjeri-willam. They are one tribe, or clan, of the Wurundjeri People, which are part of the Woiwurrung language group - one of five language groups that make up the Kulin Nation.
Several sites of cultural and spiritual significance to the People of the Wurundjeri-willam have been recorded along Edgars Creek. At the old Kodak plant site, and further north in Wollert & Epping, numerous scatters from the making of stone axe and spear heads have been sighted.
Some historians believe that the signing of the Batman Treaty may have taken place along Edgars Creek.
Edgars Creek, like many other Melbourne creeks and rivers, provided a vital source of food and water to the local Aboriginal community. Family groups consisting of somewhere between ten and twenty or more people would make up a single clan, or tribe.
The family groups were granted ownership of a particular stretch of land, which was theirs to habitat, preserve and farm. Around the time of European settlement, the land of the Wurundjeri-willam was passed on to them by Ningullabul, the Ngurungaeta, or leader, of the Woiwurrung.
Burning was used to cultivate and renew the land. The indigenous people would toil the earth to promote the growth of the Murnong, or Yam Daisy, which was a staple in their diet.
Complex eel traps were made out of rocks and wood, which were arranged to direct migrating eels into traps woven from the fibres of aquatic plants.
Men would hunt together for emu, kangaroo and other mammals, as well as birds, while the women, and children would gather bush tucker, such as freshwater mussels, yabbies, small animals and plants.
The Wurundjeri People had, and continue to have, an intimate physical and deeply spiritual connection to the land. There are many descendents of the original Wurundjeri People who still live in and around Melbourne. Go to "Wurundjeri" in the freshwater directory to find out more.
Community
Edgars Creek falls within the tribal boundaries of Aboriginal clan, the Wurundjeri-willam, who are its traditional custodians and original community.
Edgars Creek travels through several residential zones offering recreational enjoyment to many. The stretch of creek within the Moreland City Council boundary has wonderful walking areas and is a regular haunt to many walkers and dog lovers. Edwardes Lake Park boasts over 100,000 visitors a year.
Many local residents, with homes adjacent to the creek, have orientated their houses and gardens to take in the full benefits of their lucky location. Some have extended their gardens into the creek's green corridor.
Although the spirit of these "green fingers" is commendable, it is unfortunate that some of these enthusiasts have introduced foreign plant species to Edgars Creek. These compete with native plants and much work has recently been done to remove them!
The Friends of Edgars Creek (FOEC) and MECCARG, Merri & Edgars Creek Confluence Area Restoration Group (MECCARG) have recently been formed. They are a sub committees of the Merri Creek Management Committee (MCMC) working on the preservation, management & restoration of the Edgars and Merri Creeks.
FOEC Contact:
Click here to go to the FOEC webpage.
Aliey Ball m: 0407 132 560 or email: edgarscreek@freshwater.net.au
Stephen Northey m: 041 050 4212 email: stephen@optimus-prime.com
MECCARG Contact:
Click here to go to the MECCARG webpage.
Nic and Dave on 9354 9664 or click here to email them and get invloved.
FOEC, MECCARG & MCMC work in partnership with other members of the Edgars Creek community such as local residents Whittlesea, Darebin and Moreland local councils, Melbourne Water Corporation, Yarra Valley Water, Edwardes Lake Neighborhood Environment Improvement Plan (NEIP) and local schools.
Students of Peter Lalor Secondary College (PLSC) have undertaken a re-vegetation project along the banks of Edgars Creek in Thomastown. Contact Sue Gunningham, Cluster Educator on 0400 642 888, or PLSC on 9464 0122 to find out more about these activities.
The PLSC work is not far from Westgarthtown, the old German Settlement, which has a long history with Edgars Creek.
There are many long-time residents of Edgars Creek, who have watched it change over the years. One such resident, Helen, has walked the creek each day for nearly thirty years.
She fondly remembers times when the waters ran clear and fresh, abundant with fish, birds and other animals. Fairly recently she found an injured Boobook Owl, which like the Sacred Kingfisher's return to the Merri Creek, is a sign of change for the better.
The recent sale and future redevelopment of the 27 hectare Kodak site in North Coburg has put the future of the adjacent Edgars Creek parklands under scrutiny. Recently sixty Coburg North residents have joined forces to form the Merri and Edgars Creek Parkland Group to try to prevent development of the parkland area. Click here to go to their website.
Meanwhile the Kodak Neighborhood Action Group (KNAG) are advocating for community & environmentally sensitive management of the Kadak site redevelopment.
Edwardes Lake Park
Edwardes Lake Park, part of Darebin City Council, in Reservoir, boasts over 100,000 visitors each year. It is one of Melbourne's largest lakes, offering picturesque picnic areas, complete with barbeques and playgrounds. The lake comes alive in the warmer months, teaming with local residents, families and friends.
The walking path, which encircles the lake, has become a part of many locals' exercise routine - (similar to "The Tan" at the Melbourne Botanical Gardens) with people walking and jogging the course morning and evening. An athletics track and sports ground, within the boundaries of the park, are frequented by schools, sporting groups and enthusiasts, often drawing crowds to the park.
The Darebin Festival has been held at Edwardes Lake Park, biennially, for many years, where it transforms into a thriving market place, carnival ground, community music and performance event space. Click here to find out more about the Darebin Festival.
Edwardes Lake Park and adjacent Lemington St Wetlands Reserve are home to many freshwater bird species, which are a joy to people and bird enthusiasts - Black Swans, Pacific Black ducks, Dusky Moore hens, Purple Swamp hens, to name but a few. The park's abundance of mature eucalypts and tall trees attract several parrot species and other tree top birds.
Edwardes Lake is managed by the Edwardes Lake Neighborhood Environment Improvement Plan (NEIP), which is made up of many members and stakeholders, among them the Friends of Edwardes Lake (contact Marianna Pettolino on 0407 327 367), Darebin& Whittlesea councils, Melbourne & Yarra Valley water authorities, EPA, Friends of Merri Creek, and DSE.
See "History" below, and "References" at the bottom of this page, for more about Edwardes Lake.
History
See Wurundjeri-willam on this page to learn about the Indigenous Aboriginal history.
Edgars Creek has had several names in the past including Dry Creek, Blind Creek, Blindmans Creek and Elisabeth Creek. It is unclear as to the exact origins of the name Edgars Creek, though many suspect it was named after W. H. Edgar. MLC in the early 20th Century.
Westgarthtown, situated along Edgars creek in Thomastown, is the oldest German settlement in Victoria and is of particular historical significance. It was established in March of 1850. Several families from the settlement established dairy farms in the surrounding land, one of which eventually grew to become "Pura" the well known milk company.
Edwardes Lake Park was original swampland donated to the people by Thomas Dyer Edwardes in 1914. In the 1980's the first weirs were built to create Edwardes Lake. A fish hatchery was established in the early 30's, and bathing shelters as swimming had become a regular summer pastime.
Rowing teams and small yachts frequented the lake from the early 1900's through to the 1970's when the lake's poor water quality was declared dangerous to humans. Work on the wetlands area began in 2002.
Geology
Edgars Creek has three recorded sites of geological significance - a terrace, waterfall and dolomite nodules (Victorian Resources Online's reports).
Go to "Geology" on our links and recommended reading pages for more information about Melbourne's geology.
The 1999 Northern Melbourne Waterways Study
The following information is a brief summary of the above report and some more recent information.
Upstream of Coopers Rd and Craigieburn Rd there was open grazing of livestock - the animal waste contributing to high levels of ecoli being reported in the water downstream. Erosion of the creek's banks in this area has also been noted. A residential estate is proposed for the area in the near future.
Edgars Creek passes a quarry and landfill down from Coopers Rd, then residential zoning from Childs Rd to Main St, where the banks are badly eroded, over run with weeds and the water quality is very poor.
Edgars Creek continues past a semi-industrial area before reaching Mahoneys Rd, then a residential area where it has been concrete-lined before it meets the Leamington St wetlands area and Edwardes Lake Park, which was originally swampy wetlands, now, a picturesque man-made lake and wetlands reserve.
Residential and industrial development is proposed for what was until recently the Kodak plant, off Elisabeth St in Coburg North. The 27 hectare site occupies land on both the east and west sides of Edgars Creek with a private bridge crossing. Further along the land is zoned open-space, as it is prone to flooding, with a recreational park and sports ovals.
Check out Edgars Creek Narrative - Art Exhibition, by Aliey Ball.
References
:: Key Solutions. Edgars Creek, 2003.
:: Key Solutions. Edwardes Lake – A Gift Well Received, 2002.
:: Richard Broome. Coburg Between Two Creeks, Lothian, Melbourne 1987.
:: Ian Clarke, Barry Cook. Victorian Geology Excursion Guide, Australian Academy of Science 1988 ISBN 0 85847 143 4
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